Candidate: Kathleen Mary "Katie" McHugh

     Judge Kathleen Mchugh is a hometown candidate raised in Southwest Ranches on a 10 acre farm in 1968. Her father was the owner of an agricultural supply company called the Country Western Store in Davie. Her mother is a teacher who taught in the public and private schools for over 40 years.

     Judge Mchugh graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in 1986.  She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminology from the Florida State University in 1990.  She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1994.

     Judge Mchugh served as an Assistant Broward County Public Defender from 1995 until 1998.  She then entered private practice for 15 years handling a multitude of criminal and civil cases. She was lead trial counsel in over 100 jury trials ranging from misdemeanors to murder cases.

     Judge Mchugh was elected to the county court in 2012,  and served for nine years in the domestic violence division. This is a special unit and problem-solving court. She has handled thousands of cases and presided over hundreds of jury trials.  She is currently assigned to the civil division handling landlord tenant, property damage, personal injury, small claims, and foreclosure cases.  She has been a member of the Florida Bar for 30 years. She was re-elected to a second term without opposition in 2018.

     Judge Mchugh has a strong commitment to public service and has served on the Board of Directors for the Lighthouse of Broward since 2018.  This is a nonprofit organization meeting the needs of blind and visually impaired children and adults in the community.  She previously served as a member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfilling the heartfelt wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.